Hybrid catheter guide wire apparatus and method

Abstract

A hybrid catheter guide wire includes an elongate solid body having a tapered distal end over which is disposed a tubular section—about which a catheter may be threaded for guidance to a target location in a vasculature passageway of a body. Cuts are formed either by saw-cutting, laser cutting or etching at spaced-apart locations along at least a portion of the tubular section to increase its lateral flexibility, while maintaining its rotational torquability, and to control the direction and degree of flexure.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A hybrid catheter guide wire for introduction into a vessel pathway to guide a catheter to a predetermined location, comprising a thin elongate solid body of material including a thinner distal termination section, and a thin elongate tubular body of material having a proximal end and a distal end, and attached co-linearly at its proximal and distal ends to the solid body to circumscribe at least a portion of the distal termination section of the solid body, at least some portion of the tubular body having greater lateral flexibility than the solid body. 
     
     
       2. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  wherein the exterior surface of the tubular body includes a plurality of cuts spaced apart along at least a portion of the length of the tubular body to increase lateral flexibility thereof. 
     
     
       3. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 2  wherein the longitudinal spacing between cuts is selectively varied to thereby selectively vary flexibility along at least a portion of the length of the tubular body. 
     
     
       4. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 2  wherein the depth of the cuts is selectively varied to thereby selectively vary flexibility along at least a portion of the length of the tubular body. 
     
     
       5. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 2  wherein at least some of the cuts are formed near the end of the tubular body farthest from the distal end of the solid body. 
     
     
       6. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 2  wherein said cuts are formed by saw-cutting. 
     
     
       7. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 2  wherein said cuts are formed by etching. 
     
     
       8. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 2  wherein said cuts are formed by laser cutting. 
     
     
       9. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 2  wherein said cuts are formed by electron discharge machining. 
     
     
       10. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  wherein the guide wire further includes a radiopaque and/or MRI detectable element disposed at the distal end of the tubular elongate body. 
     
     
       11. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  wherein the guide wire further includes a radiopaque and/or MRI detectable element disposed about at least a portion of the distal termination section, within the tubular body. 
     
     
       12. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  wherein the solid body of material and tubular body of material are generally cylindrical. 
     
     
       13. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 12  wherein the diameters of the solid body and tubular body are substantially the same. 
     
     
       14. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 13  wherein said diameters are between about 0.008 inches to 0.035 inches. 
     
     
       15. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 14  wherein said diameters are about 0.014 inches. 
     
     
       16. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 15  wherein the diameter of the hollow of the tubular body is about 0.0085 inches. 
     
     
       17. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 12  wherein the diameter of the solid body of material is greater than the diameter of the tubular body. 
     
     
       18. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 12  wherein the diameter of the solid body of material is less than the diameter of the tubular body. 
     
     
       19. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  wherein the solid body is made of stainless steel, and wherein the tubular body is made of nickel-titanium alloy. 
     
     
       20. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  further including a lubricious coating disposed over the exterior of the tubular body. 
     
     
       21. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  further including a lubricious sleeve disposed about the exterior of the solid body and tubular body. 
     
     
       22. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  further including a sleeve disposed about the exterior of the solid body and tubular body, and a lubricious coating disposed over the exterior of the sleeve. 
     
     
       23. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  wherein the thinner distal termination section of the solid body is co-extensive with and extends through the hollow of the tubular body. 
     
     
       24. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 23  further including a plug disposed in a distal end of the tubular body and on the termination of the thinner distal termination section of the solid body. 
     
     
       25. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 24  wherein the plug comprises a coil attached to the termination of the solid body and to the distal end of the tubular body. 
     
     
       26. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 25  wherein said coil is made of a radiopaque or MRI detectable material. 
     
     
       27. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 23  wherein the thinner distal termination section of the solid body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polymers and fiber-reinforced materials. 
     
     
       28. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 1  further including coil means disposed in the tubular body at least at the proximal end thereof, and about the proximal end thereof, and about at least a portion of the solid body at the thinner distal termination section thereof. 
     
     
       29. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 28  wherein the coil means is attached to the tubular body and the solid body. 
     
     
       30. A hybrid catheter guide wire as in  claim 28  wherein the coil means is made of platinum. 
     
     
       31. A hybrid guidewire configured for traversing a body lumen to a target location in a body of a patient, comprising: 
       an elongate core wire having a distal section of reduced profile; and,  
       a tubular member disposed over at least a portion of the distal reduced profile section, said tubular member defining openings therein, and the tubular member being configured to be laterally relatively more flexible and torsionally relatively more stiff than at least a portion of the reduced profile distal section of the core wire, whereby a distal portion of the guidewire is configured,at a location where the guidewire includes the tubular member to enable transfer of a moment force from an adjacent proximal location along the guidewire toward a more distal location along the guidewire, and at the same time to minimize resistance to a lateral force tending to bend the guidewire distal portion,  
       said tubular member being attached to the elongate core wire adjacent a proximal end of the tubular member and adjacent a distal end of the tubular member.  
     
     
       32. A hybrid guidewire as in  claim 31 , further comprising a marker coil disposed intermediate the tubular member and the core wire. 
     
     
       33. A hybrid guidewire as in  claim 32 , comprising a marker coil disposed adjacent the proximal end of the tubular member, and a marker coil disposed adjacent the distal end of the tubular member. 
     
     
       34. A hybrid guidewire as in  claim 31 , wherein a connection between the elongate core wire and the tubular member comprises solder. 
     
     
       35. A hybrid guidewire as in  claim 31 , wherein a connection between the elongate core wire and the tubular member comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
       36. A hybrid guidewire as in  claim 31 , wherein the holes in the tubular member are elongate and disposed so that their long dimension is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the guidewire.